Kremlin Says Putin Ready to Meet Trump in New York if Needed

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet US President Donald Trump in New York, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. The statement was made during a briefing, though no specific high-level meeting has been confirmed.

"There is no specific information regarding any high-level meetings. If we are talking about a Russian-American meeting, the president is ready," the official said, as quoted by TASS. The remarks come amid ongoing speculation about a possible encounter between the two leaders on the sidelines of a multilateral event.

The official added that Presidents Putin and Trump have consistently emphasized in their telephone conversations their readiness to hold another meeting at some point if necessary. The two leaders have spoken by phone multiple times in recent months, discussing bilateral issues and international matters.

The mention of New York suggests a possible meeting could take place during a United Nations General Assembly session, though the report did not specify a date or venue. The Russian president has not traveled to the United States since before the war in Ukraine, and any visit would mark a significant diplomatic development.

There has been no immediate comment from the White House on the Kremlin's statement. The two countries have maintained limited channels of communication despite strained relations over the conflict in Ukraine, sanctions, and other disputes.

According to Mehr News, which cited TASS, the Kremlin spokesman said that while no concrete plans for a meeting exist, Putin remains open to dialogue with his American counterpart. The report did not provide further details on the potential timing or agenda of any such talks.